Uhuru, Raila Shelve Nairobi Celebration Party

File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga (right)
File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga (right)
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga reportedly shelved plans to receive the much-anticipated Building Bridges Initiative report.

This was after Chief Justice David Maraga threw the country into a panic mode owing to his advisory to have Parliament dissolved

The BBI Committee stated that the final report is ready for presentation. 

"I am not going to discuss the contents of the report, but I can confirm to you that it is ready for presentation to the President and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Raila Odinga and BBI taskforce head Yusuf Haji enjoy a hearty moment during the BBI Garissa rally on February 23, 2020.
Raila Odinga and BBI taskforce head Yusuf Haji enjoy a hearty moment during the BBI Garissa rally on February 23, 2020.
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"We are only waiting for an appointment to do so," lawyer Paul Mwangi stated on Thursday, September 24. 

Reports allege that Kenyatta and Odinga were to receive the report at the end of September 2020, after postponing the original June 2020 dates. The earlier program was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic

Sources intimated that the two leaders shifted focus to handling the advisory issued by Chief Justice David Maraga. 

The BBI Committee has reiterated its proposal to have MPs from the majority party select the Prime Minister, with the Senate handed express mandate to have the last say on revenue allocation. 

Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have, however, vowed to oppose any plans to create additional executive positions. They also hinted at shooting down any referendum proposals. 

However, in his advice to President Kenyatta on CJ Maraga's advisory, Odinga affirmed his stand for a referendum exercise to enact BBI proposals. 

"I appeal to the President to consult as widely as possible before taking any action on this matter and ensure that the overall interests of the people are served by any action he finally decides to take.

"In circumstances where institutions have failed as is the case with Parliament currently, the Constitution gives power to citizens to act directly and not through their elected representatives to have their aspirations realised," Odinga's statement read.

'The power to citizens' phrase was debunked as a signal that the referendum was seemingly inevitable as Odinga had also blamed the Parliament for not enacting the two-thirds gender rule.

According to him, dissolving the Parliament won't solve the issue, a referendum and constitutional changes may help help solve the puzzle. 

From left: Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, during the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative
From left: Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, during the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative
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